Hot Topics:

Marvin Miller dead at age 95

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
11/28/2012 06:34:49 AM EST

Marvin Miller, the union boss who won free agency for baseball players in 1975, ushering in an era of multimillion-dollar contracts and athletes who switch teams at the drop of a batting helmet, died Tuesday at 95. He had been diagnosed with liver cancer in August.

"I think he's the most important baseball figure of the last 50 years," former baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent said. "He changed not just the sport but the business of the sport permanently, and he truly emancipated the baseball player -- and in the process all professional athletes. Prior to his time, they had few rights. At the moment, they control the games."

In his 16 1/2 years as executive director of the Major League Players Association, starting in 1966, Miller fought owners on many fronts, not only achieving free agency but making the word "strike" stand for something other than a pitched ball. Over the years, his influence on the game was widely acknowledged, though the Hall of Fame has repeatedly rejected him. Players attending the union's annual executive board meeting in New York said their professional lives are Miller's legacy.

GENERAL

Tiger not playing in Europe

Tiger Woods is more driven to catch Jack Nicklaus than to try to emulate Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy. Woods made it clear that he had no interest in taking up membership on the European Tour.

Advertisement

He had floated the possibility last month in Turkey that he would look into dual membership with Europe counting the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup toward the minimum requirement of 13 events. "I'll make it real simple -- I'm not going to play the European Tour next year," Woods said.

BASEBALL

Pettitte, Yankees close on deal

Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees are reportedly near an agreement on a one-year contract in the range of $10 million to $12 million. Pettitte, who turns 41 in June, retired after the 2010 season and then decided to come back this year and signed a contract guaranteeing $2.5 million. He went 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 12 starts, missing nearly three months with a broken left leg.

Phillies All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz has been suspended for the first 25 games of next season following a positive test for an amphetamine. Ruiz will be eligible to participate in spring training, including exhibition games. The 33-year-old had a career year in 2012, hitting .325 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs in 114 games.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.